Safety vial and cap therefor

ABSTRACT

A safety vial and cap therefor, preferably of resilient plastic material, designed to prevent the inadvertent opening and usage of stored medicines by, for example, young children. The cap has a radially outward projecting cammed locking service over a portion of its radius, the cap being substantially of a plug type. The cap further has an additional outwardly extending locking lug portion of small angular dimension opposed to the aforementioned outwardly projecting cammed surface. The top of the vial includes an inwardly projecting ribbed section extending around the inner circumference thereof, with a slotted opening therein of substantially the same dimension as the second outwardly projecting locking member of the plug-in cap. Once the cap is inserted into the vial it is necessary to bring the second outwardly projecting locking lug into resistry with the slot in the top rib of the vial to permit upward movement of the cap through the slot therein. This will, in addition to locking the cap on the vial to prevent inadvertent opening thereof, further require that the cap be moved into exact registry to permit desired opening. Furthermore, once the cap is inserted onto the vial, except for the slightly extended tab, there are no projections outside the circumference of the cap which would make it possible for someone to forcibly remove the cap from the vial.

United States Patent [191 Robbins et al.

[ Nov. 5, 1974 SAFETY VIAL AND CAP THEREFOR [76] inventors: Douglas R. Robbins, 37 West Minster; Samuel B. Robbins, Jr., 19

Beechview, both of Jamestown, NY.

22 Filed: Nov. 8, 1973 21 Appl. No.5 413,922

[52] US. Cl 215/214, 215/216, 215/357 [51] Int. Cl. ....-B65d 55/02, B65d 85/56, A6lj 1/00 [58] Field of Search 2l 5/2l3, 214, 216, 224,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 24 1972 Fontenelli @215 225 5 1973 Gach ..2l5/9 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cyril A. Krenzer [57] ABSTRACT A safety vial and cap therefor, preferably of resilient plastic material, designed to prevent the inadvertent I opening and usage of stored medicines by, for exam\ ple, young children. The cap has a radially outward projecting cammed locking service over a portion of its radius, the cap being substantially of a plug type. The cap further has an additional outwardly extending locking lug portion of small angular dimension opposed to the aforementioned outwardly projecting cammed surface. The top of the vial includes an inwardly projecting ribbed section extending around the inner circumference thereof, with a slotted opening therein of substantially the same dimension as the second outwardly projecting locking member of the plug in cap. Once thecap is inserted into the vial it is'necessary to bring the second outwardly projecting locking lug into resistry with thetslot in the top rib of the via] to permit upward movement of the cap through the slot therein. This will, in addition to locking the cap on the via] to prevent inadvertent opening thereof, further require that the cap be moved into exact registry to permit desired opening. Furthermore, once the cap is inserted onto the vial, except for the slightly extended tab, there'are no projections outside the circumference of the cap which would make it possible for someone to forcibly remove the cap from the vial.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SAFETY VIAL AND CAP THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION been totally successful because of the fact that in almost all cases the bottom portion of the cap has extended outward beyond the sides of the vial container, thereby providing a surface against which pressure can be exerted, such as for example, by a bottle opener, knife and the like, to permit a relatively easy forced opening of the vial. That is, most of the prior art safety caps and vials have been of the snap or type cap closure, and of necessity being constructed of a resilient material, have thereby been susceptible to being opened by the exertion of relatively minor amounts of force, such as could easily be'exerted by a young child.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a safety vial with a snap cap which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety vial with a cap having proscribed safety features, yet

which may be easily opened byproper manipulation thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a safety vial with aplug type cap of relatively economic design.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplished according to one embodiment'by providing a vial the top of which has an inwardly projecting annular ring with a, slot cut in a small angular portion thereof. The plug type cap has an annular canimed surface outwardly projecting from one portion thereof, and a small annular outwardly projecting second cammed surface opposed thereto, the second cammed surface adapted to be aligned with the slot cut in the ring at the top, of the vial. The top of the cap is spaced slightly apart from the outwardly extenda ing cammed surfaces to thereby providea closure seal when the cap is snapped into engagement with the ring extending inwardly on the top of the vial. A small locat- 1 shaped member 17 taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the plug type cap taken alonglines 3+3v of FIG. 1; and

in accordance with the FIG. 4 is a side view of the plug type cap taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3. p

I DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects and advantages thereof, reference is made'to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the abovedescribed drawings.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the improved safety vial and cap therefor includes a generally cylindrical container 11 open at the top 13 and closed at the bottom 15. The container 11 is preferably made of a transparent generally rigid plastic material. A double ring shaped member 17 is adapted to be fitted over the top of the container and has an outer depending ring'shaped portion 19, the inner diameter of which is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the container 11. The member 17 also includes an inner depending ring shaped portion 21 which has an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the container 11. The two ring portions 19 and 21 are joined at the top 23 to form therebetween a groove 25 into which the top 13 of the container ll'may be inserted and properly affixed, such as by sonic or spin welding, gluing, etc. The

double ring shaped member is preferably made of a moldable plastic material and should be of a material that readily bonds or adheres to the material of the container 11. i

The inner ring section 21 has a portion 27 removed I therefrom or a gap therein, the purposeof which will 'of FIG. 1, there is shown more clearly the relationship between the outer depending ring shaped portion 19 and the inner depending ring shaped portion 21 defining therebetween the groove 25 into which the top 31 of the container 11 is adapted to'be inserted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the depth of the inner depending I ring member 21 is less than that of the outer depending ring shaped member 19. In an alternate configuration (not shown) the inner depending ring shaped member 19 can be eliminated so long as the top 23 of the member 17 extends inwardly of the top edge 13 of the container 11. In this alternate embodiment, the gap 27 Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the cap 31, preferably madeof resilient plastic material for the container includes a generally circular top portion 33 having an outer diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the outer depending ring shaped portion 19 of member 17. Depending from the bottom of the top 33 is a generally ring shaped or hollow cylindrical member 35 having an outer diameter of the ring shaped portion 21 of member 17. Extending outwardly from the outer wall of the member 35 are first and second tabs 37 and 39 respectively, being approximately oppositely disposed on the outer wall of the member 35.The tab 37 has an angular displacement approximately equal to the notch or opening 27 in the top of the member 17.

The tab 39 preferably encompasses'an angular displacement of between 90 and l, although other an gular displacements may be used depending upon the resiliency of the material of which the cap 31 is made. Referring to the view of FIG. 3, it is seen that the cap 31 additionally has a protuberance or locator tab 41 extending outwardly from the top 33, which locator tab has an angular relationship approximately equal to that of tab portion 37. This locator tab 41, of course, extends beyond the outer diameter of member 17 when the cap is inserted into the opening 29 in member 17.

Referring next to FIG. 4, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tabs 37 and 39 are angled inwardly from top to bottom to facilitate insertion of the cap in the opening even though tab 37 may not be in alignment with the slot 27 in member 17. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 4, there exists a spacing 43 between the top oftab members 37, 39 and the top portion 33 of the cap 31. This spacing 43 should be approximately equal to the depth of the inner depending ring shaped portion 2] of member 17.

In operation, as previously mentioned the member 17 is suitably affixed to the top of the container 11, leaving an opening 29 into the container adapted to receive the cap 31. The cap is inserted into the opening 29 by placing the downward portion of member 35 into the opening and applying pressure to the top of the cap 33. Because of the tapered configuration of the tabs 37, 39 and the generally resilient material of the cap, only a moderate pressure or force is required to insert the cap into the container to suitably seal it. Once inserted, the tops of the tabs 37, 39 become disposed beneath the bottom of the inner dpending ring shaped portion 21 of member 17, thus making it virtually impossible without the exertion of considerable force to remove the cap from the container so long as the tab 37 is not in alignment with the notch 27 in member 17. However. if the tab 37 is in alignment with the notch 27 only a moderate upward pressure is required to remove the cap from the container since the tab 37 passes through the slot 27 and the resiliency ofthe cap material permits an inward compression ofthe walls ofthe cylindrical portion 35 of the cap 31.

According to an alternate embodiment of the invention, the double ring shaped portion 17 can be formed, for example by molding, as an integral part of the top of the cylindrical vial 11, being formed in the same mold and at the same time as the vial is formed. However, this approach is more readily accomplished ifthe bottom ofthe cylindrical vial 11 is added some time after the making of the vial and double ring shaped portion, thereby providing an appropriate opening for part of the mold required to form the unitary construction. This and other modifications and variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Therefore. while the invention has been shown and described in conjunction with the description of a preferred embodiment, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specifics thereof, but rather is to embrace the full scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety vial and cap therefor. comprising in combination:

a generally cylindrical container having uniform wall thickness, said container being closed at the bottom and open at the top:

a double ring shaped member having an outer depending ring shaped portion, the inner diameter of which is equal to or slightly less than the outer diameter of said. cylindrical container and an inner depending ring shaped portion, the outer diameter of which is equal to or slightly greater than the inner diameter of said cylindrical container with said inner depending ring shaped portion having a slot therein, said outer depending ring portion and said inner depending ring shaped portion being joined at the top to thereby form a generally ey'lindrical slot therebetween adapted to have inserted therein the top of said cylindrical container; means for inserting the open end of said generally cylindrical container in and affixing the same to the cylindrical slot in said doublering shaped member;

a plug type cap comprising a top portion having a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the outer depending ring shaped portion of said double ring shaped member and a cylindrical portion open at the bottom depending from said top portion and having an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the inner depending ring shaped portion of said double ring shaped member, further including first and second protuberances on opposite sides of the bottom of the cylindrical sector of said plug type cap, a first one of said protuberances having an angular dimension approximately equal to the dimension of the slot in the inner depending ring shaped portion of the double ring shaped member. 2. The invention according to claim 1 additionally comprising a tab on the top portion of said plug type cap placed in angular relation to the first protuberance.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the outer wall of the double ring shaped member includes a mark indicating the slot in the inner depending ring shaped portion of the double ring shaped member.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said protuberances are tapered so that at the bottom thereof, the protuberances merge intothe bottom of the cylindrical portion of the plug type cap.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the angular displacement of the second protuberance on the gylindrical portion of the plug type cap is less than 6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the top of said double ring shaped member has a slight taper operative thereby to facilitate insertion of the plug type cap.

7. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the protuberances on the cylindrical portion of the plug type cap are dimensioned such that upon insertion of the cap into the double ring shaped member on the vial, the protuberances are under the bottom of the inner depending ring shaped portion of the double ring shaped member.

8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the closure at the bottom of the generally cylindrical container is effected by affixing a closure member to the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein said double ring shaped member is formed as an integral part of said generally cylindrical container prior to the affixing of the closure member to the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall.

* l =l l 

1. A safety vial and cap therefor, comprising in combination: a generally cylindrical container having uniform wall thickness, said container being closed at the bottom and open at the top; a double ring shaped member having an outer depending ring shaped portion, the inner diameter of which is equal to or slightly less than the outer diameter of said cylindrical container and an inner depending ring shaped portion, the outer diameter of which is equal to or slightly greater than the inner diameter of said cylindrical container with said inner depending ring shaped portion having a slot therein, said outer depending ring portion and said inner depending ring shaped portion being joined at the top to thereby form a generally cylindrical slot therebetween adapted to have inserted therein the top of said cylindrical container; means for inserting the open end of said generally cylindrical container in and affixing the same to the cylindrical slot in said double ring shaped member; a plug type cap comprising a top portion having a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the outer depending ring shaped portion of said double ring shaped member and a cylindrical portion open at the bottom depending from said top portion and having an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the inner depending ring shaped portion of said double ring shaped member, further including first and second protuberances on opposite sides of the bottom of the cylindrical sector of said plug type cap, a first one of said protuberances having an angular dimension approximately equal to the dimension of the slot in the inner depending ring shaped portion of the double ring shaped member.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 additionally comprising a tab on the top portion of said plug type cap placed in angular relation to the first protuberance.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the outer wall of the double ring shaped member includes a mark indicating the slot in the inner depending ring shaped portion of the double ring shaped member.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said protuberances are tapered so that at the bottom thereof, the protuberances merge into the bottom of the cylindrical portion of the plug type cap.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the angular displacement of the second protuberance on the cylindrical portion of the plug type cap is less than 180*.
 6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the top of said double ring shaped member has a slight taper operative thereby to facilitate insertion of the plug type cap.
 7. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the protuberances on the cylindrical portion of the plug type cap are dimensioned such that upon insertion of the cap into the double ring shaped member on the vial, the protuberances are under the bottom of the inner depending ring shaped portion of the double ring shaped member.
 8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the closure at the bottom of the generally cylindrical container is effected by affixing a closure member to the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall.
 9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein said double ring shaped member is formed as an integral part of said generally cylindrical container prior to the affixing of the closure member to the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall. 